Lightning reads: Oligarchy

Man: I hope you’ll weather the storm.

Leon Kastayudha – Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie died on September 12 at the age of 83. As the third president of Indonesia, his administration straddled the upheavals of Suharto’s New Order regime and reformasi – the political reform movement that began in 1998.

Jakarta – The Denny JA Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI) predicts that the presidential elections (pilpres) in 2024 will be enlivened by a contest between four different ideologies, namely reformasi, political Islam, the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945) and human rights (HAM).

Jakarta – The head of Indonesian Police Public Relations Division Information Section, Senior Commissioner Asep Adi Saputra, says that police are currently looking into the involvement of Kopassus’ Rose Team (Tim Mawar) in the riots that took place in Jakarta on May 22.

According to the latest survey by pollster Cyrus Indonesia, only 70 percent of Indonesians accept Pancasila as the country’s ideology and a unifying viewpoint for all citizens.

Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) chairperson Asfinawati has drawn a comparison between the May 21 and 22 riots in Jakarta, the May 1998 riots and the 1974 Malari affair. She says that there are similarities between the three incidents.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition representing the families of the victims of the May 1998 tragedy is calling on the president elect not to include cronies and alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violation in 1998 in the next cabinet.

Jakarta – The families of victims of the May 1998 riots in Jakarta have held a procession in which they scattered flowers and held joint prayers at the Klender Mall in East Jakarta on the morning of Monday May 13.

Devina Halim, Jakarta – Amnesty International (AI) Indonesia is urging the government to resolve the Trisakti tragedy through legal channels. This was revealed by AI Executive Director Usman Hamid in response to the 21st anniversary of the Trisakti student shootings on May 12, 1998.

Farih Maulana S, Jakarta – The Trisakti University has commemorated 21 years since the tragedy which took place on May 12, 1998. The commemoration was held by retracing the footsteps of those killed in the incident and scattering flowers on the Trisakti campus grounds.

Jakarta – The deputy chairperson of the Islamic based Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), Hidayat Nur Wahid, says that he doesn’t agree with the petition against the Islamic Defenders Front’s (FPI).

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) have again warned that both presidential tickets – incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and running mate Ma’ruf Amin as well as rival Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno – have close ties with retired TNI (Indonesian military)

Jakarta – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara says the prosecution of past cases of gross human rights (HAM) violations is being hindered by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and there is nothing new in the AGO’s latest response.

Samarinda – Scores of protesters wearing multi-coloured clothing from the Samarinda Anti-Sexism Alliance began gathering at 2 pm local time at the Samarendah Park on Friday March 8.

Oktaviani – The “sumpah pocong” challenge thrown up by Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Wiranto to former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Green Berets) commander Major General Kivlan Zein is inappropriate.

Jakarta – Activists from the Solidarity Network for the Families of Victims (JSKK) held their 576th Kamisan (Thursday) action in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday February 28.

Jakarta – Former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Green Berets, Kostrad) chief of staff retired Major General Kivlan Zen has spoken out about a request for money from Wiranto in 1998. Zen claimed that he asked Wiranto for money to cover the cost of setting up Pam Swakarsa.

Jay Akbar – Two politicians have recently joined the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the presidential campaign ticket of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and vice presidential running mate Ma’ruf Amin: Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama alias BTP and Muchdi Purwoprandjono, who is better known as Muchdi PR.

M Guruh Nuary, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that the four year administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla has failed to resolve past cases of gross human rights (HAM) violations.

Wisnoe Moerti – The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has returned nine case dossiers on past gross human rights violations to the National Human rights Commission (Komnas HAM).